Events

City of London – Friday 22 September 2017

On behalf of the Franco-British Lawyers Society, in association with the Franco-British Council and with support from Herbert Smith Freehills and GPlus Europe, you are cordially invited to attend a one-day colloquium on “Business and Brexit” in London on Friday 22 September 2017.

The event will examine Brexit and the business and legal implications from a Franco-British perspective, drawing on expert views from industry, academia and politics through various panel discussions. Topics of discussion include the impact on financial services and the legal and accounting professions and an examination of the political consequences on both sides of the Channel. Please find a draft programme and list of speakers below.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France to the UK is expected to open the event, and attend the dinner, which is addressed to CEOs, CFOs, General Counsels, senior business representatives and civil service employees.

The event will take place at the office of Herbert Smith Freehills, London. A Gala dinner at the Fishmongers Hall will follow later that evening.

Please find below details of prices and the link through which the registration and payment may be made.

For further information about the event or if you have any questions, please email Jasmine Yennek on jyennek@me.com or telephone her on +44 (0) 7525 858395.

We look forward to welcoming you on 22 September.

BUSINESS AND BREXIT – PROGRAMME

Opening Session

Following a keynotes address by Guy Canivet on Brexit and judicial cooperation, Sir Richard Aikens will respond with further interventions from members of the French Legal High Committee for Financial Markets (Haut Comité Juridique de la Place Financière de Paris). This committee is working on understanding the possible consequences for the financial markets of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Three sub-committees are considering:

• la coopération judicière en matière civile et commerciale,
• aspects institutionnels (traités et accords),
• infrastructures de marché.

• Guy Canivet, President of the HCJP, Honorary President of la Cour de Cassation, former member of the Constitutional Court

• Sir Richard Aikens, Former Court of Appeal Judge

• Alban Caillemer du Ferrage, Partner, Jones Day, Paris and Member of the Haut Comité Juridique de la place Financière de Paris (HCJP)

• Gérard Gardella, Member of the HCJP and former General Counsel, Société Générale

Session 2 – Financial Services

The panel will be a practical discussion on Brexit issues for banks and insurance companies that will need to be addressed in the current Brexit negotiations, in particular the likely impact on the City, EU “passporting” rights and the challenge for regulators, and the acquisition and retention of talent.

• Sir Mark Boleat, Former Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee, City of London Corporation

• Michael Llewelyn-Jones, Visiting Professor, London Institute of Banking and Finance and former Vice Chairman, Citibank

• Geoffrey Maddock, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, London

Session 3: Brexit – The UK and French Political Perspective

Following elections in France and the UK, the panel will survey the political landscape from both sides of the Channel on Brexit, looking at the impact on relations between close allies and potential fallouts, and what may be necessary to obtain the support of the UK and Europeans Parliament for the Brexit deal negotiated by the European Commission and the U.K.

• Anneliese Dodds, UK Member of Parliament (Lab) for Oxford East

• Noelle Lenoir, Former French Minister for European Affairs and Affiliate Professor at HEC Paris

Session 4: A View from Business – transition, supply chain and other risks

This panel will be a practical discussion among business executives of the decisions that companies are facing and the strategies they are adopting as they prepare for and react to Brexit and the matters they would particularly wish to see addressed in the current Brexit negotiation.

• Philippe Méchet, Senior Executive Vice President, Public Affairs Adviser, EDF

• Paul Butcher, Brexit Director, Herbert Smith Freehills, London

• Nuns Moodliar, Vice-President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Hertz International

• Ivan de Goullard d’Arsay, Deputy General Counsel, Veolia Group

• Bernard Tabary, CEO International, Keolis

Session 5 – Implications for Accounting and Legal Services

This panel will explore some of the issues that might affect these professions as a result of Brexit. Issues such as mutual recognition of qualifications and licences, rights to practice, rights to standing before certain Courts and institutions, legal professional privilege and wider issues such as the free movement of personal data.

• Jean-Charles de Lasteyrie, former Vice President, European Federation of Accountants.

• Hugh Mercer QC, Chair, Brexit Working Group of the Bar and the CCBE European Lawyers’ Committee. Leader of the European Circuit.

• Bernard Vatier, Former Bâtonnier de l’Ordre des Avocats du barreau de Paris and Honorary President of the Union Nationale des Caisses d’Avocats.

N.B the final programme and speakers may be modestly adjusted

HSF Offices: Exchange House, Primrose St, London EC2A 2EG

Gala Dinner: Fishmongers’ Hall: London Bridge, London, EC4R 9EL – Dress code – business suits

The Franco-British Council is a platform for the exchange of ideas and information between Britain and France set up and supported by the governments of France and Britain to promote better understanding between the two countries. It brings together leading representatives from the world of culture, politics, defence, science, education and business. It has recently launched a Young Leaders program.

The Franco-British Lawyers Society is a registered charity that aims to advance public    education    and    training in the practice of French law and the laws of the United Kingdom while facilitating arrangements and exchanges between British and French lawyers thereby contributing to the enhancement of legal, economic and cultural ties between France and the United Kingdom

Herbert Smith Freehills is one of the world’s leading professional services businesses, bringing together the best people to meet client’s legal services needs globally. Accessing our deep global sectoral expertise, as well as our local market understanding, we help organisations  realise opportunities while managing risk to help them achieve their commercial objectives.

 gplus europe is a leading public affairs and communications firm specialised in political and regulatory risk, advocacy, reputation building and litigation communications. With consultants in Berlin, Brussels, London and Paris, and a network of like-minded partner companies in European and international capitals, we devise and implement public affairs and communications strategies across Europe and around the globe for blue-chip clients.

Picture Credit: Brexit by Daniel Diaz Bardillo 2017 [CC0]